Feeding device and baking apparatus including the same

ABSTRACT

A feeding device is to be mounted on a baking apparatus and includes a container and a conveying unit. The container is formed with a containing space for containing food material and includes an outlet spaced apart from the containing space. The conveying unit is disposed between the containing space and the outlet, and is configured to convey the food material from the containing space to the outlet for dispensing the food material from the outlet to the baking apparatus.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

This application claims priority of Chinese Patent Application No.201610082022.6, filed on Feb. 5, 2016.

FIELD

The disclosure relates to a baking apparatus for heating food material,and a feeding device of the baking apparatus.

BACKGROUND

A conventional baking apparatus includes a heating plate for heating afood material (e.g., for making eatables such as a pancake). In use, thefood material is placed manually onto the heating plate in order to beheated.

However, in cases where a plurality of servings of food material are tobe baked (e.g., to make a plurality of pancakes), repeated placingactions must be performed, which may be inconvenient for a useroperating the baking apparatus. Moreover, it is relatively difficult fora user to provide the same amount of the food material in each of theplacing actions.

SUMMARY

Therefore, an object of the disclosure is to provide a feeding deviceand a baking apparatus including the same that can alleviate at leastone of the drawbacks of the prior art.

According to one aspect of the disclosure, the feeding device to bemounted on a baking apparatus includes a container and a conveying unit.The container is formed with a containing space for containing foodmaterial and includes an outlet spaced apart from the containing space.The conveying unit is disposed between the containing space and theoutlet, and is configured to convey the food material from thecontaining space to the outlet for dispensing the food material from theoutlet to the baking apparatus.

According to another aspect of the disclosure, the baking apparatusincludes the feeding device and a baking device. The feeding deviceincludes a container and a conveying unit. The container is formed witha containing space for containing food material and includes an outletspaced apart from the containing space. The conveying unit is disposedbetween the containing space and the outlet, and is configured to conveythe food material from the containing space to the outlet for dispensingthe food material. The baking device includes a baking plate and abaking unit. The baking plate is disposed relative to the outlet forreceiving the food material dispensed by the feeding device. The bakingunit is disposed adjacent to the baking plate to heat the baking platefor baking the food material received on the baking plate.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Other features and advantages of the disclosure will become apparent inthe following detailed description of the embodiments with reference tothe accompanying drawings, of which:

FIG. 1 is a partly exploded perspective view illustrating a firstembodiment of a baking apparatus according to the disclosure;

FIG. 2 is a sectional side view illustrating one embodiment of a feedingdevice of the baking apparatus according to the disclosure;

FIG. 3 is a fragmentary sectional view illustrating one embodiment ofthe feeding device of the baking apparatus according to the disclosure;

FIG. 4 is an exploded perspective view illustrating one embodiment of aconveying tube and a conveying component of the baking apparatus;

FIG. 5 is an exploded perspective view illustrating the first embodimentof the baking apparatus according to the disclosure;

FIG. 6 is a sectional side view illustrating one embodiment of a bakingdevice of the baking apparatus according to the disclosure;

FIG. 7 is a schematic top view illustrating baked food material is movedalong a path through one embodiment of a separator device and anunloading device of the baking apparatus;

FIG. 8 is a fragmentary sectional top view illustrating one embodimentof the baking device of the baking apparatus;

FIG. 9 is a block diagram illustrating one embodiment of systemarchitecture of the baking apparatus;

FIG. 10 is a flowchart illustrating one embodiment of an operation flowof the baking apparatus;

FIG. 11 is a flowchart illustrating a process flow of an example ofbaking the food material using the baking apparatus; and

FIG. 12 is an exploded perspective view illustrating one embodiment ofthe conveying tube and the conveying component of the baking apparatusaccording to the disclosure.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Before the disclosure is described in greater detail, it should be notedthat where considered appropriate, reference numerals or terminalportions of reference numerals have been repeated among the figures toindicate corresponding or analogous elements, which may optionally havesimilar characteristics.

It should be noted herein that the directional references, such as“upward”, “downward” and the like, made throughout this disclosure areto be understood as the ordinary directional relationships when lookingdirectly at the figures.

Referring to FIGS. 1 to 3, a first embodiment of a baking apparatusaccording to the disclosure is illustrated. The baking apparatus is usedfor baking a food material (e.g., wheat flour, yeast powder, milk,butter, sugar, cocoa solids, water or combinations thereof). The foodmaterial may be baked to make eatables such as a pancake, a crumpet, awaffle, etc.

The baking apparatus includes a feeding device 1, a baking device 2, aseparator device 3 and an unloading device 4.

The feeding device 1 includes a container 11, an upper base 10 havingthe container 11 removably mounted thereon, and a conveying unit 12.

The upper base 10 includes a hollow upper base body 13, a holder 14extending from the upper base body 13, and a fastening mechanism 15disposed on the holder 14 for fastening the container 11 on the holder14.

The holder 14 defines a holding space 143 for removable placement of thecontainer 11. The holder 14 includes a holder bottom wall 141, and aholder surrounding wall 142 extending upward from the holder bottom wall141. The holder bottom wall 141 and the holder surrounding wall 142cooperate to define the holding space 143. The holder bottom wall 141 isformed with a feeding opening 144 that is formed through the holderbottom wall 141 and that is located below the container 11 when thecontainer 11 is placed in the holding space 143. The holder surroundingwall 142 does not completely enclose the holding space 143 such that anopen terminal 145 is formed to be in spatial communication with theholding space 143 for allowing horizontal entrance of the container 11into the holding space 143. The holder surrounding wall 142 is formedwith a first coupling portion 146 which is exemplified as two grooveportions extending respectively from opposite sides of the open terminal145, along opposite inner surfaces of the holder surrounding wall 142toward the upper base body 13. By virtue of the first coupling portion146, the holding space 143 is wider at the bottom than at the top sothat a vertical section of the holding space 143 resembles an invertedT-shape.

The fastening mechanism 15 includes a fastening component 151 and aspring component 152. The fastening component 151 is movably disposedbetween the holder 14 and the container 11, and protrudes from one ofthe two groove portions toward the container 11 when the container 11 isplaced in the holding space 143. The spring component 152 is disposedbetween the holder 14 and the fastening component 151, and is configuredto provide a restoration force to the fastening component 151 for urgingthe fastening component 151 to abut against the container 11.

The container 11 includes a container body 16 and a conveying tube 17.

The container body 16 includes a container bottom wall 161, an uppercontainer surrounding wall 163, a lower container surrounding wall 164and a second coupling portion 165.

The container bottom wall 161 and the upper container surrounding wall163 cooperate to define a containing space 166 for containing the foodmaterial. The container bottom wall 161 and the lower containersurrounding wall 164 cooperate to define an installation space 167 foraccommodating the conveying tube 17. The container bottom wall 161separates the containing space 166 and the conveying tube 17. Thecontainer bottom wall 161 is formed with a through hole 162 that is inspatial communication with the containing space 166 for passage of thefood material out of the containing space 166 therethrough. Thecontainer bottom wall 161 extends obliquely in a downward direction froma junction between the upper and lower container surrounding walls 163,164 toward the through hole 162 so as to enable the food material in thecontaining space 166 to flow to the through hole 162 by gravity. Theupper container surrounding wall 163 surrounds and extends upward froman edge of the container bottom wall 161. The lower containersurrounding wall 164 extends from the edge of the container bottom wall161 and away from the containing space 166 (i.e., downward according tothe drawings). The second coupling portion 165 is formed on andprotrudes outward from the lower container surrounding wall 164,corresponds to the first coupling portion 146 for removable engagementwith the first coupling portion 146, and is formed with a notch 168 forengagement of the fastening component 151 of the fastening mechanism 15thereinto. Specifically speaking, the second coupling portion 165includes two connecting walls for engagement with the two grooveportions (i.e., the first coupling portion 146) formed on the holdersurrounding wall 142. The notch 168 is formed in one of the twoconnecting walls. By engaging the connecting walls with the grooveportions 146 and by engaging the fastening component 151 with the notch168, the container 11 is stably fastened to the holder 14.

Referring to FIGS. 2-4, the conveying tube 17 is mounted to a portion(i.e., the container bottom wall 161 and the lower container surroundingwall 164) of the container body 16 opposite to the containing space 166.The conveying tube 17 is formed with an outlet 173 spaced apart from thecontaining space 166, and defines a conveying channel 171 spatiallycommunicating with the containing space 166 and the outlet 173. Theoutlet 173 corresponds in position to the feeding opening 144 of theholder 14 when the container 11 is placed in the holding space 143. Theconveying tube 17 is further formed with an inlet 172 that is in spatialcommunication with the conveying channel 171 and that is aligned withthe through hole 162 for allowing passage of the food material via thethrough hole 162 and the inlet 172 into the conveying channel 171. Theinlet 172 is spaced apart from the outlet 173 and the two are notaligned with each other.

The conveying unit 12 is disposed between the containing space 166 andthe outlet 173, and is configured to convey the food material from thecontaining space 166 to the outlet 173 for dispensing the food material.The conveying unit 12 includes a conveying component 18 and a conveyancedriving module 19. The conveying component 18 is rotatable about a firstaxis and is mounted to the conveying tube 17. The conveyance drivingmodule 19 is configured for driving rotation of the conveying component18. The food material in the conveying channel 171 is conveyed to theoutlet 173 when the conveying component 18 is driven to rotate.

The conveying component 18 includes a conveying body 181 and an engagingpart 182. The conveying body 181 is disposed in the conveying channel171. The conveying body 181 includes a blade shaft 183 and a blademember 184. The blade shaft 183 extends along the first axis. The blademember 184 is disposed on the blade shaft 183. In this embodiment, theblade member 184 is a spiral blade disposed along the blade shaft 183,but is not limited thereto. Blades on the spiral blade are spaced apartfrom each other by an equal distance. The blade shaft 183 and the blademember 184 of the conveying component 18 are disposed in the conveyingchannel 171 so as to convey the food material from the containing space166 via the conveying channel 171 to the outlet 173. The engaging part182 extends from an end of the conveying body 181 and through the lowercontainer surrounding wall 164 of the container body 16.

The conveyance driving module 19 is mounted to the upper base body 13 ofthe upper base 10 and is removably engaged to the engaging part 182 ofthe conveying component 18 so as to rotate the conveying component 18.Specifically, the conveyance driving module 19 includes an exposedengaging head 191 that extends through the upper base body 13 forengagement with the engaging part 182, and a motor 192 for drivingrotation of the engaging head 191. In this embodiment, the engaging part182 is implemented by a prismatic block, such as a rectangular prism,and the engaging head 191 is formed with a square slot so as to benon-rotatably engaged with the engaging part 182. However,implementation may vary in other embodiments as long as the engaginghead 191 and the engaging part 182 non-rotatably engage. For example,the engaging part 182 is implemented by a triangular prism or anelliptical cylinder, and the engaging head 191 may be formed with atriangular slot or an elliptical slot, respectively. Moreover, it isfeasible that the engaging head 191 is implemented by the prismaticblock, and the engaging part 182 is formed with the square slot.Implementation of the engagement therebetween is not limited to thedisclosure herein.

Referring to FIGS. 5-7, the baking device 2 includes a lower base 21, afirst baking plate 22 mounted to the lower base 21, a second bakingplate 23 mounted to a bottom of the upper base 10, a rotation unit 24configured to rotate the first baking plate 22 about a second axis forbringing the food material received on the first baking plate 22 to movealong a path (T) for baking, a baking unit 25 and a control unit 26 thatis communicably connected with the conveying unit 12, the rotation unit24 and the baking unit 25.

The lower base 21 includes a lower base body 211 and a pivot mechanism212 for pivotally and removably connecting the upper base body 13 to thelower base body 211. The lower base body 211 includes a housing bottomwall 213 that can be stably placed on a plane, and a housing surroundingwall 214 that extends upward from a peripheral of the housing bottomwall 213. The housing bottom wall 213 and the housing surrounding wall214 cooperate to define a bottom space 215.

In this embodiment, the pivot mechanism 212 is embodied using a pair oflugs 216 that extend upward from a rear side of the housing surroundingwall 214 and that are spaced apart from each other, and two pivot rods217 that are connected to a rear side of the upper base body 13 and thatpivotally engage the lugs 216, respectively. The pivot rods 217 arerotatable about a third axis, such that the upper base 10 is hinged tothe lower base 21 for allowing movement between an opening position (notshown) and a closed position (FIG. 2). It is worth to note that variousembodiments may be employed to implement the pivot mechanism 212 inorder to achieve a similar result.

The first baking plate 22 is substantially circular in shape and isdisposed relative to the outlet 173 for receiving the food materialdispensed by the feeding device 1. The first baking plate 22 is made ofa thermal conductive material such as iron so as to be heated by thebaking unit 25. The first baking plate 22 is formed with a firstengaging portion 221 at a center of a bottom thereof. A portion of thefirst baking plate 22 cooperates with the holder 14 to define a feedingspace 222 therebetween for accommodating one serving of the foodmaterial. The path (T) starts from the feeding space 222.

The second baking plate 23 is substantially semicircular in shape. Thesecond baking plate 23 is disposed above the first baking plate 22 andis spaced apart from the first baking plate 22. The second baking plate23 is made of a thermal conductive material such as iron so as to beheated by the baking unit 25. Another portion of the first baking plate22 cooperates with the second baking plate 23 to define a baking space223 therebetween for baking two servings of the food material. Thebaking space 223 is located downstream relative to the feeding space 222along the path (T).

Referring to FIGS. 5, 6 and 8, the rotation unit 24 includes a rotatingshaft 241 rotatably mounted to the housing bottom wall 213, and arotation driving module 242 for driving rotation of the rotating shaft241.

The rotating shaft 241 is coupled to the first baking plate 22, andincludes a shaft body 243 extending upward, four protruding components244, a passive gear 245 surrounding a peripheral of the shaft body 243,and a second engaging portion 246 disposed at a top of the shaft body243 for being removably connected to the first engaging portion 221.Driven by the rotation driving module 242, the shaft body 243 isrotatable about the second axis which passes through the shaft body 243.The protruding components 244 extend radially from the shaft body 243and are evenly spaced apart from each other by an angle. In thisembodiment, the second engaging portion 246 is a hexagonal blockprotruding upward, and the first engaging portion 221 is formed with ahexagonal recess such that the first and second engaging portions 221and 246 are engaged non-rotatably to each other. It should be noted thatimplementations of the first and second engaging portions 221 and 246may vary in other embodiments as long as the first and second engagingportions 221 and 246 are engaged non-rotatably to each other. Forexample, the first and second engaging portions 221 and 246 may be inother shapes, and are not limited to that of this embodiment.

The rotation driving module 242 is configured to drive rotation of therotating shaft 243 about the second axis. The rotation driving module242 includes an active gear 247 engaging the passive gear 245, and amotor 248 for driving rotation of the active gear 247. In thisembodiment, a number of teeth on the passive gear 245 is larger thanthat on the active gear 247 so as to magnify torque delivered to therotating shaft 243, but implementations of the numbers of teeth on theactive and passive gears 247 and 245 are not limited thereto. Driven bythe rotation driving module 242 to rotate, the rotating shaft 243 bringsthe first baking plate 22 to rotate such that the food material 900received on the first baking plate 22 is moved along the path (T) asshown in FIG. 7.

The baking unit 25 includes a first heating module 251 disposed adjacentto the first baking plate 22 for heating the first baking plate 22 so asto bake the food material received on the first baking plate 22, and asecond heating module 252 disposed adjacent to the second baking plate23 for heating the second baking plate 23. The first heating module 251heats the first baking plate 22 by employing an electrical heating tubemounted to the lower base 21 and arranged correspondingly below thelower baking plate 22. When powered by electricity, the electricalheating tube is capable of generating heat for heating the lower bakingplate 22. Similarly, the second heating module 252 heats the secondbaking plate 23 by employing another electrical heating tube mounted tothe upper base 10 and arranged correspondingly above the upper bakingplate 23. When powered by electricity, the another electrical heatingtube is capable of generating heat for heating the upper baking plate23.

Referring to FIGS. 5, 8 and 9, the control unit 26 includes a sensingmodule 261, an interface 262 and a processing module 263.

The sensing module 261 is mounted to the lower base body 211, and isspaced apart from the shaft body 243. The sensing module 261 istriggerable, when the rotating shaft 241 is rotating, by the protrudingcomponents 244, alternately. In this embodiment, the sensing module 261is implemented by a mechanical micro switch that is triggered when beingcontacted. It is worth noting that implementation of the sensing module261 may vary in other embodiments, and is not limited to thisembodiment. For example, the sensing module 261 may be implemented by aninfrared trigger for sensing an angle of rotation of the rotating shaft241.

The interface 262 includes a display screen 265 and a button set 264which are disposed on the upper base body 13. The interface 262 allowsuser input of a number of baking operations (i.e., the number ofservings of the food material to be baked), a feeding time period duringwhich the food material is to be fed from the containing space 166 tothe baking device 2 (i.e., to control the amount of food materialdispensed), and a baking time period during which the food material isto be baked in the baking space 223. In other embodiments, the interface262 may be embodied using a touch screen, and is not limited to thisembodiment. Moreover, in other embodiments, the control unit 26 may beconfigured to determine the feeding time period, to control theconveying unit 12 to convey the food material from the containing space166 during the feeding time period, and to stop the conveying unit 12from conveying the food material from the containing space 166 when thefeeding time period has elapsed.

The processing module 263 is communicably connected with the sensingmodule 261, the interface 262, the conveyance driving module 19, therotation driving module 242, the first heating module 251 and the secondheating module 252. The processing module 263 is configured to controlthe rotation driving module 242 to drive rotation of the rotating shaft241, and to stop the rotation driving module 242 from driving rotationof the rotating shaft 241 when rotation of the rotating shaft 241 bringsone of the protruding components 244 to trigger the sensing module 261.The processing module 263 controls the conveyance driving module 19 andthe rotation driving module 242 according to the feeding and baking timeperiods inputted.

The operation of the baking apparatus will now be described.

Referring to FIGS. 2, 3 and 9, when it is desired to bake the foodmaterial contained in the container 11, a user may operate the interface262 to activate the baking apparatus for performing a feeding process.In response, the processing module 263 activates the conveyance drivingmodule 19 for driving the conveying component 18 to rotate. When theconveying component 18 is rotating, the food material in the containingspace 166 is conveyed from the containing space 166 through theconveying channel 171 and the outlet 173 to the feeding opening 144 fordispensing the food material on the feeding space 222 of the firstbaking plate 22. Meanwhile, the processing module 263 counts down thefeeding time period which is set in advance by the user using theinterface 262. After the feeding time period has elapsed, the processingmodule 263 stops the conveyance driving module 19 so as to stopdispensing the food material in the containing space 166 and to completethe feeding process.

It should be noted that the amount of food material delivered isdirectly proportional to the feeding time period based on an assumptionthat a rotational speed of the conveying component 18 is constant.Therefore, by virtue of shape design of the conveying component 18 whichis driven to rotate for conveying the food material, it is convenient tostandardize the amount of food material to be baked by adjusting thefeeding time period.

Referring to FIGS. 5, 8 and 9, the baking apparatus may be controlled toperform a rotating operation.

In the rotating operation, the processing module 263 activates therotation driving module 242 to drive the rotation of the rotating shaft241 so as to rotate the first baking plate 22. The rotating first bakingplate 22 brings the food material received thereon to move along thepath (T) as shown in FIG. 1. In this embodiment, the rotating shaft 241rotates in a clockwise direction. In response, the first baking plate 22is driven to co-rotate with the rotating shaft 241.

When one of the protruding components 244 comes into contact with andtriggers the sensing module 261 (i.e., the rotating shaft 241 hasrotated by 90 degrees), the sensing module 261 enables the processingmodule 263 to stop the rotation driving module 242. That is, in thisembodiment, one rotating operation turns the first baking plate 22 by 90degrees in the clockwise direction. In other embodiments, the rotatingshaft 241 may rotate in a counterclockwise direction based on differentarrangement of the feeding device 1 and the baking device 2.

Referring to FIGS. 6 and 7, the separator device 3 is configured toseparate the food material thus baked from the first baking plate 22.The separator device 3 includes a separating rod 31 and two connectingcomponents 32 for connecting the separating rod 31 to the upper base 10.The separating rod 31 is disposed in a separating space 224 downstreamrelative to the baking space 223 along the path (T). The separating rod31 is configured to abut against a surface of the first baking plate 22on which the food material is to be disposed, and to extend between acenter of the first baking plate 22 and an edge of the first bakingplate 22 for allowing the food material thus baked to cross over theseparating rod 31 so as to separate the food material thus baked fromthe first baking plate 22 without adhering to the surface thereof. Asshown in FIG. 7, after the food material 900 passes through the bakingspace 223 along the path (T), the food material 900 is baked to resultin the baked food material 900′. When the baked food material 900′ ismoved further down the path (T) and enters the separating space 224, thebaked food material 900′ crosses over the separating rod 31, and isseparated and ready to be removed from the first baking plate 22.

The unloading device 4 is configured to unload the food material thusbaked (i.e., the baked food material) from the first baking plate 22.The unloading device 4 includes a blocking wall 41 mounded to the bottomof the upper base 10 and is disposed in an unloading space 225downstream relative to the separating space 224 along the path (T). Theblocking wall 41 is configured to extend between the center of the firstbaking plate 22 and the edge of the first baking plate 22 for blockingpassage of the baked food material so as to unload the baked foodmaterial from the first baking plate 22. As shown in FIG. 7, when thebaked food material 900′ is moved further downstream along the path (T)and enters the unloading space 225, the baked food material 900′ will beblocked by the blocking wall 41 to be repelled away from the firstbaking plate 22 in a leaving direction (F).

Referring to FIGS. 7, 9, 10 and 11, steps of a method for operating thebaking apparatus to bake the food material is illustrated.

In step 51, the user of the baking apparatus inputs the number of bakingoperations (i.e., the number of servings of the food material to bebaked), the feeding time period and the baking time period. In thisembodiment, the number of baking operations, the feeding time period andthe baking time period are set to be, but not limited to, four, 5seconds and 150 seconds, respectively. The processing module 263 furtherstores a number of current servings of the food material on the firstbaking plate 22, and a current number of to-be-performed bakingoperations. In the beginning, the number of current servings is 0, andthe current number of to-be-performed baking operations equals thenumber of baking operations inputted by the user through the interface262, i.e., 4. The number of current servings is increased by 1 aftereach completion of the feeding process. Moreover, the first heatingmodule 251 and the second heating module 252 are powered on forpreheating the first baking plate 22 and the second baking plate 23.

In step 52, after the first baking plate 22 and the second baking plate23 have reached a temperature adequate for baking the food material, theprocessing module 263 controls the conveying unit 12 of the bakingapparatus to perform one feeding operation.

The feeding operation results in one serving of the food material (of 5seconds worth) being fed into the feeding space 222 of the first bakingplate 22, as shown in FIGS. 7 and 11. The number of current servings isincreased by 1.

Afterward, in step 53, the processing module 263 determines how manyserving(s) of the food material is yet to be baked (i.e., a remainingnumber of baking operations as indicated by the current number ofto-be-performed baking operations). When the number equals 1, the flowproceeds to step 58. Otherwise, the flow proceeds to step 54. In thiscase, since the current number of to-be-performed baking operations is4, the flow proceeds to step 54.

In step 54, the processing module 263 controls the rotation unit 24 toperform one rotating operation, in which the first baking plate 22rotates with respect to the second baking plate 23 by 90 degrees in theclockwise direction. The food material fed onto the first baking plate22 in step 52 is thus moved under the second baking plate 23 (i.e., fromthe receiving space 222 to the baking space 223) for baking.

In step 55, the processing module 263 determines how many serving(s) offood material is currently on the first baking plate 22 (i.e., bydetermining the number of current servings). When it is determined thatthe number of current servings does not equal to 2, the flow goes backto step 52 for repeating steps 52 to 55 until it is determined that twoservings of food material are in the baking space 223 for baking.Afterward, the step proceeds to step 56.

In step 56, the baking of the two servings of food material commences,and the processing module 263 begins timing for determining whether thebaking time period has elapsed. After the baking time period haselapsed, the processing module 263 controls the baking device 2 toperform a clearing operation, in which the two servings of (baked) foodmaterial are removed from the baking space 223. This may be done bycontrolling the first baking plate 22 to rotate by 180 degrees such thatthe two servings of baked food material can be automatically separatedand removed through the separator device 3 in the separating space 224and the unloading device 4 in the unloading space 225. Afterward, theprocessing module 263 decreases the current number of to-be-performedbaking operations by the number of current servings (i.e., changed to2).

In step 57, the processing module 263 detects the current number ofto-be-performed baking operations. In the case that the current numberof to-be-performed baking operations is 0, the method is terminated asno more food material needs to be baked. In the case that the currentnumber of to-be-performed baking operations is greater than 0 (forexample, 2 in this case), the flow goes back to step 52 to perform morebaking operations until the current number of to-be-performed bakingoperations becomes 0, and the processing module 263 resets the number ofcurrent servings to zero.

In another example, when the current number of to-be-performed bakingoperations detected in step 57 is 1, the flow proceeds to step 52 forperforming one feeding operation. As described above, the flow proceedsto step 53, and subsequently proceeds to step 58.

In step 58, the processing module 263 controls the rotation unit 24 toperform two rotating operations, so the first baking plate 22 is rotatedby 180 degrees for placing the one serving of the food material into thebaking space 223. Afterward, the processing module 263 waits for thebaking time period to elapse in order to allow the baking apparatus toproduce the baked food material, and the method then terminates.

Consequently, by the baking apparatus of this disclosure, the foodmaterial can be automatically fed, moved, baked, separated and unloaded.It is worth to note that implementation of the operation is not limitedto what has been described above.

Additionally, referring to FIG. 8, it should be noted that the number ofthe protruding components 244 is not limited to four. For example, inother embodiments, the number of the protruding components 244 may besix, such that the sensing module 261 is triggered by one of theprotruding components 244 every time the rotating shaft rotates by 60degrees.

Referring to FIG. 12, the conveying tube 17 and the conveying component18 of a second embodiment of the baking apparatus according to thisdisclosure which differ from those of the first embodiment areillustrated. In this embodiment, the inlet 172 and the outlet 173 of theconveying tube 17 are vertically aligned. The conveying body 181 of theconveying component 18 includes the blade shaft 183 extending along thefirst axis, and the blade member 185. The blade member 185 includes aplurality of blades that are evenly spaced apart from each other by thesame angle and that surround the blade shaft 183. The food material inthe containing space 166 (see FIG. 2) is conveyed from the inlet 172through a space defined by adjacent two of the blades to the outlet 173for dispensing the food material.

To sum up, the baking apparatus as disclosed by the disclosure employsthe feeding device 1 and the baking device 2 in order to automaticallydispense servings of the food material of the same amount according tothe feeding time period, and to control the food material to be bakedaccurately for the baking time period. Additionally, the first bakingplate 22 is made in a round shape, such that the rotation thereofoccupies less space (e.g., relative to plates of other shapes).

In the description above, for the purposes of explanation, numerousspecific details have been set forth in order to provide a thoroughunderstanding of the embodiments. It will be apparent, however, to oneskilled in the art, that one or more other embodiments may be practicedwithout some of these specific details. It should also be appreciatedthat reference throughout this specification to “one embodiment,” “anembodiment,” an embodiment with an indication of an ordinal number andso forth means that a particular feature, structure, or characteristicmay be included in the practice of the disclosure. It should be furtherappreciated that in the description, various features are sometimesgrouped together in a single embodiment, figure, or description thereoffor the purpose of streamlining the disclosure and aiding in theunderstanding of various inventive aspects.

While the disclosure has been described in connection with what areconsidered the exemplary embodiments, it is understood that thisdisclosure is not limited to the disclosed embodiments but is intendedto cover various arrangements included within the spirit and scope ofthe broadest interpretation so as to encompass all such modificationsand equivalent arrangements.

What is claimed is:
 1. A feeding device to be mounted on a bakingapparatus and comprising: a container formed with a containing space forcontaining food material and including an outlet spaced apart from thecontaining space; and a conveying unit disposed between said containingspace and said outlet, and configured to convey the food material fromsaid containing space to said outlet for dispensing the food materialfrom said outlet to the baking apparatus.
 2. The feeding device asclaimed in claim 1, wherein said conveying unit includes: a conveyingcomponent that is rotatable about an axis and that includes a bladeshaft extending along the axis, and a blade member disposed on saidblade shaft; and a conveyance driving module for driving rotation ofsaid conveying component.
 3. The feeding device as claimed in claim 2,wherein: said container includes a container body defining saidcontaining space, and a conveying tube mounted to a portion of saidcontainer body opposite to said containing space, and defining aconveying channel that spatially communicates with said containing spaceand said outlet formed on said conveying tube, wherein said blade shaftand a spiral blade, which serves as said blade member, of said conveyingcomponent are disposed in said conveying channel so as to convey thefood material from said containing space via said conveying channel tosaid outlet.
 4. The feeding device as claimed in claim 3, furthercomprising: an upper base having said container removably mountedthereon; wherein said conveying component includes a conveying bodydisposed in said conveying channel and including said blade shaft andsaid spiral blade, and an engaging part extending from an end of saidconveying body and through said container; and wherein said conveyancedriving module is mounted to said upper base and is removably engaged tosaid engaging part of said conveying component so as to rotate saidconveying component.
 5. The feeding device as claimed in claim 4,wherein said upper base includes: a holder defining a holding space forremovable placement of said container; and a fastening mechanismdisposed on said holder for fastening said container on said holder,said fastening mechanism including a fastening component that is movablydisposed between said holder and said container, and a spring componentthat is disposed between said holder and said fastening component, andthat is configured to provide a restoration force to said fasteningcomponent for urging said fastening component to abut against saidcontainer.
 6. The feeding device as claimed in claim 5, wherein: saidholder includes a first coupling portion; and said container bodyincludes a container bottom wall separating said containing space andsaid conveying tube, a lower container surrounding wall extending froman edge of said container bottom wall and away from said containingspace, and a second coupling portion that is formed on said lowercontainer surrounding wall, that corresponds to said first couplingportion for removable engagement with said first coupling portion, andthat is formed with a notch for engagement of said fastening componentof said fastening mechanism thereinto.
 7. The feeding device as claimedin claim 3, wherein: said container body is formed with a through holethat is in spatial communication with said containing space for passageof the food material out of said containing space therethrough; saidconveying tube is further formed with an inlet that is in spatialcommunication with said conveying channel and that is aligned with saidthrough hole for allowing passage of the food material via said throughhole and said inlet into said conveying channel, the food material inthe conveying channel being conveyed to said outlet when said conveyingcomponent is driven to rotate.
 8. The feeding device as claimed in claim2, wherein said blade member is a spiral blade disposed along said bladeshaft.
 9. The feeding device as claimed in claim 2, wherein said blademember includes: a plurality of blades that are evenly spaced apart fromeach other and that surround said blade shaft.
 10. A baking apparatuscomprising: a feeding device including a container formed with acontaining space for containing food material and including an outletspaced apart from the containing space; and a conveying unit disposedbetween said containing space and said outlet, and configured to conveythe food material from said containing space to said outlet fordispensing the food material; a baking device including a first bakingplate disposed relative to said outlet for receiving the food materialdispensed by said feeding device, and a baking unit disposed adjacent tosaid first baking plate to heat said first baking plate for baking thefood material received on said first baking plate.
 11. The bakingapparatus as claimed in claim 10, wherein said baking device furtherincludes a rotation unit configured to rotate said first baking plateabout an axis for bringing the food material received on said firstbaking plate to move along a path for baking.
 12. The baking apparatusas claimed in claim 11, wherein: said rotation unit includes a rotatingshaft that is coupled to said first baking plate, and that includes ashaft body rotatable about the axis which passes through said shaftbody, and a plurality of protruding components extending radially fromsaid shaft body and being evenly spaced apart from each other by anangle, and a rotation driving module configured to drive rotation ofsaid rotating shaft about the axis; and said baking device furtherincludes a control unit that is communicably connected with saidrotation unit, and that includes a sensing module spaced apart from saidshaft body, and triggerable by said plurality of protruding components,alternately, and a processing module communicably connected with saidsensing module and said rotation driving module, and configured tocontrol said rotation driving module to drive rotation of said rotatingshaft, and to stop said rotation driving module from driving rotation ofsaid rotating shaft when rotation of said rotating shaft brings one ofsaid plurality of protruding components to trigger said sensing module.13. The baking apparatus as claimed in claim 10, wherein said bakingdevice further includes a control unit that is communicably connectedwith said conveying unit, and that is configured to determine a feedingtime period, to control said conveying unit to convey the food materialfrom said containing space during the feeding time period, and to stopsaid conveying unit from conveying the food material from saidcontaining space when the feeding time period has elapsed.
 14. Thebaking apparatus as claimed in claim 10, wherein: said baking devicefurther includes a second baking plate disposed above said first bakingplate and spaced apart from said first baking plate, a portion of saidfirst baking plate and said second baking plate cooperating to define abaking space therebetween for baking the food material; and said bakingunit includes a first heating module for heating said first bakingplate, and a second heating module for heating said second baking plate.15. The baking apparatus as claimed in claim 10, further comprising aseparator device that is configured to separate the food material thusbaked from said first baking plate, and that includes a separating rodconfigured to abut against a surface of said first baking plate on whichthe food material is to be disposed, and to extend between a center ofsaid first baking plate and an edge of said first baking plate forallowing the food material thus baked to cross above said separating rodso as to separate the food material thus baked from said first bakingplate.
 16. The baking apparatus as claimed in claim 10, furthercomprising an unloading device that is configured to unload the foodmaterial thus baked from said first baking plate, and that includes ablocking wall configured to extend between a center of said first bakingplate and an edge of said first baking plate for blocking passage of thebaked food material so as to unload the food material thus baked fromsaid first baking plate.